Bed guard



June 19, 1951 E. L. GREENSFELDER BED GUARD Filed NOV. 5Q, 1948 EZMEI? LGREENSFELDEE,

Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BED GUARD Elmer L.Greensfelder, Provincetown, Mass.

Application November 30, 1948, Serial No. 62,719

11 Claims.

This invention relates to bed guards and aims to provide a bed guardattachment easily and efliciently securable in position, which isstrongly and economically constructed, and which is secured againsttilting in a manner avoiding the use of projecting parts apt to causeinjury to the occupant of the bed or other persons, and in a mannerpreventing children from loosening the device.

The invention comprises the novel features and combinations of structureand the newly cooperating elements hereinafter described and is pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the bed guard attached toa bed shown in broken lines.

Fig. -2 is a fragmentary end elevation taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 in thedirection indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a detail of an alternative form of shim means.

Fig. 6 is a detail of an alternative tie attachment.

In the illustrative embodiment, the bed guard comprises a frame or panelof suitable material, which in the form shown comprises end members III,II, top and bottom cross bars I2 and I3, and filler bars I4. Theseseveral members, prefer ably of wood, are desirably coplanar on therespective faces of the panel. The end members III-I I, as shown, extendbelow the bottom member I3, by an amount approaching, equal to, orgreater than, the depth of the side rail of a bed, indicated at I5.

The frame or panel in the form shown is further provided with Z-shapedangle brackets I6 which are secured to the front face of the frame, asby headed rivets I1, and extend under the bottom of the panel and turndownwardly in rearwardly spaced relation thereto, and which preferablyextend to a depth approaching, equal to, or greater than, the depth of abed side rail, indicated at I5. These angle brackets I6 thus define,with the extensions of the end members I0 and I I a bed rail receivingspace (see Figs. 2 and 4) having substantial vertical extent.

Means is provided for varying the effective width of this space, hereinin the form of adjustable shimming elements I8, which may be of metal,wood, plastic or rubber, and preferably are non-metallic or roundedgedto avoid scratching of the bed rail I5. The shimming means arepreferably of substantial length, and may have a length approaching,equal to or greater than, the depth of the bed rail I5.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-4 the shim members I8 are pivoted to therear face of the side members I lJ--II, at a level above that of therearwardly extending portions of the Z-brackets IS. The brackets I6, asshown, are secured to the panel in longitudinally spaced relation to theend members If), I I, by a distance preferably somewhat shorter than thelengths of the shim members. Thus, the shim members, in theirinoperative position (see horizontal members in the drawings) mayoverlie and be supported by the rearwardly extending portions of thebrackets I6. The several shim members may be of graduated lengths, asshown, with the longest strip adjacent the panel members. Thisfacilitates selection of the number of strips to lie in the operativeposition to adjust the Width of the side rail receiving channel (seeFigs. 2 and 4).

Alternatively, the shims, as shown at I8a, Fig. 5, may be graduated inlength in the opposite direction, with their overlying ends bentdownwardly. This facilitates selection and also presents at the tip ofthe group of shims in use a bevelled entranceway facilitating mountingon the bed rail, while the tips of shims not in use are turned backagainst the bottom I3, preventing catching thereof in bedclothes, forexample.

As is shown in Fig. l, the shim strips I8, in either position, arecompletely concealed from the front of the guard. Moreover, when theguard is displaced, the strips in use, and those not in use, as well as.the rearwardly projecting portions of the brackets I6, are well belowmattress level (indicated at I9, Fig. 1). Thus no projections arepresented which can cause injury either to the occupant of the bed orone walking past it. The under side and forward face of the rearwardlyprojected portions of the brackets I6 are preferably padded, as byrubber sleeving, plastic coating, or surface applied rubber or felt, asexemplified at 20.

With the arrangement thus far described, it will be apparent that merelyby properly adjust ing the shim elements III (or I8a) a snug nontiltingfit of the device to any bed rail, within the range of adjustmentprovided, may be had and that when thus adjusted the guard may-be placedin position and removed at will.

A further unique feature of the present invention is the provision ofmeans, and especially bed leg cooperating means, for securing the guardin its adjusted position and preventing children or other occupants ofthe bed from raising it from its secured position.

In the form of Figs. 1-4, one of the end members In, H abuts against thebed post (indicated at 2|), and at its lower end isprovided with postembracing means, herein exemplified as'a tie or belt 22 of leather,canvas or other suitable material, anchored to the downwardly extendedportion of the end member l8, preferably below bedrail level and adaptedto be secured about the bed leg (indicated at 23). In the form of Figs.14, the belt or tie 22 is passed through an aperture 24 of the dependingextension Ill. The member I I may have a similar aperture 24 throughwhich the tie may be passed to adapt the guard for securement on theopposite side of the bed. When the tie 22 is not recessed into the rearface of the extension [0, and the device is being mounted on a thick bedrail so that the shim means is is not in use the tie 22 may be removedto afford mounting clearance during the placing of the device on the bedrail; in other circumstances, as when shimming means 18 is in use as inFigs. 2 and 4, the guard may be placed in position and removed with thetie in place even though it projects beyond the rear surface of theextension It. When the belt or tie 22 is tightly secured to the bed-leg,as shown in Fig. 1, it becomes impossible for the occupant of the bed toup-tilt or raise the end I i of the panel. Further,

as most beds have turned or tapered legs or ii (or II) as by a nail 22b,and its other end is provided with spaced securing means, which may bein the form of slots, and after passing around the post (23 Fig. 1) issecured by having one of its securing means separably engaged with acooperating fastening means shown as a screw eye 220, this form beingpreferred to other forms of separable fastener because it may be lockedby turning the member cross-wise of the slot engaged therewith.

When the strap 22a in Fig. 6 is secured as at 222) to the rear orrail-facing side of the end member ii! (or ll) it is preferably recessedtherein as shown, to afford rail clearance when the device is applied torails of maximum thickness.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the presentinvention provides a simple and efficient device, easily adjusted andpositioned, and easily secured and removed, and which presents noprotuberances apt to cause injury to persons occupying or walking pastthe bed. To remove and replace the device it is necessary only tomanipulate a single tie. The device is held firmly against tilting backand forth from the vertical plane by its deep and snug adjustableengagement with the bed-rails, and yet avoids use of any parts apt todamage or mar the adjacent portions of the bed. All corners and edgesare preferably rounded and heads of rivets and the like are preferablywashered and recessed as shown in connection with bolts I1.

The offset arrangement of the brackets, best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, isof special utility as it positions the guard outwardly from themattress, facilitating tucking in of covers when the guard is in place.

It would be understood that the exemplary embodiment herein shown isillustrative and not restrictive of the invention, which is defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A guard attachment for beds comprising a vertical panel, extensionsdepending from the bottom portion of said panel to lie forwardly of theouter face of a bed-rail, said extensions having their rear facesarranged in a common plane, brackets extending rearwardly from thebottom portion of said panel and having a portion depending in spacedparallel relation to the rear facial plane of said extensions to liebehind the inner face of the bed rail, and shimming means carried by theguard movable to lie in line with or out of line with the bed-rail toadjust the guard to snugly engage the bed rail and hold it firmly invertical position.

2. A guard attachment for beds comprising a vertical panel, extensionsdepending from the bottom portion of said panel to engage the outer faceof a bed rail, said extensions having their rear faces arranged in acommon plane, Z-shaped brackets secured to the front face of said paneland extending rearwardly thereunder and terminating in dependingportions lying in spaced parallel relation to the rear facial plane ofsaid extensions, and means carried by said guard for adjusting theeffective width of the space between said extensions and said dependingportions to snugly fit the bed-rail.

3. A guard attachment for beds comprising a vertical panel, extensionsdepending from the bottom portion of said panel to lie forwardly of theouter face of a bed-rail, said extensions having their rear facesarranged in a common plane, brackets extending rearwardly from thebottom portion of said panel and having a portion depending in spacedparallel relation to the rear facial plane of said extensions to liebehind the inner face of the bed rail, and means carried by said guardfor holding the guard against vertical and longitudinal movementrelative to the bedrail.

4. A guard attachment for beds comprising a vertical panel, extensionsdepending from the bottom portion of said panel to lie forwardly of theouter face of a bed-rail, said extensions having their rear facesarranged in a common plane, brackets extending rearwardly from thebottom portion of said panel and having a portion depending in spacedparallel relation to the rear facial plane of said extensions to liebehind the inner face of the bed rail, and bed leg embracing meanscarried by said guard for holding the guard against vertical andlongitudinal movement relative to the bed-rail.

5. A guard attachment for beds comprising a vertical panel, extensionsdepending from the bottom portion of said panel to lie forwardly of theouter face of a bed-rail, said extensions having their rear facesarranged in a common plane, brackets extending rearwardly from thebottom portion of said panel and having a portion depending in spacedparallel relation to the rear facial plane of said extensions to liebehind the inner face of the bed rail, and a bed leg embracing tiecarried at the bottom end of one of said extensions for securement aboutthe leg of a bed below the side rail thereof for holding the guardagainst vertical and longitudinal movement relative to the bed rail.

6. A bed guard adapted in vertical position to snugly straddle the siderail of a bed and be held vertical thereby with one of its end edgespositioned against the bed post, said guard having a downwardlyextending portion, and a tie engaging said downwardly extending portionfor securing it to the leg of the bed to prevent vertical andlongitudinal movement of the guard.

7. A bed guard comprising a panel, means providing a bed-rail straddlingchannel depending from said panel, shimming means for .adjusting theefiective width of said channel, and bed-leg embracing tie means securedto said guard for engaging a bed leg below the bed-rail for anchoringsaid guard with one of its edges juxtaposed to a bed post.

8. A bed guard comprising a panel, means providing a bed-rail straddlingchannel depending from said panel, said means being arranged to offsetsaid channel rearwardly from the plane of the panel to space the paneloutwardly with respect to the edge of a mattress to provide tuckingclearance, means for adjusting the effective width of the channel, andmeans for securing the guard in its offset rail-straddling position.

9. A bed guard comprising a panel, means providing a bed-rail straddlingchannel depending from said panel, and a group of shims pivotallysecured to said panel and rotatable into and out of said channel toadjust the efiective width of said channel.

10. A bed guard comprising a panel, means providing a bed-railstraddling channel depending from said panel, and a group of shimspivotally secured to said panel and rotatable into and out of saidchannel to adjust the effective width of said channel, said shims beingof graduated length.

11. A bed guard comprising a panel, means providing a bed-railstraddling channel depending from said panel and bed-leg embracing tiemeans secured to said guard for engaging a bed leg below the bed-railfor anchoring said guard with one of its edges juxtaposed to a bed post.

ELMER L. GREENSFELDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 494,560 Floyd Apr. 4, 18931,840,259 Schmohl Jan. 5, 1932

